The woman speaks

2 I was partially asleep, but my mind was still awake.

Then I heard the one who loves me knocking at the door.

He said, “My darling, you who are dearer to me than my sister, my dear friend, my perfect one, my dove [MET],

open the door for me!

My hair is wet from the dew,

from the mist that has fallen during the night.”

3 But I had already taken off my robe;

I did not [RHQ] want to put it on again to open the door.

I had already washed my feet;

I did not [RHQ] want them to become dirty again.

4 The one who loves me put his hand through the opening in the wall,

and I was thrilled that he was there.

5 I got up to open the door for the one who loves me,

but first I put a lot of myrrh on my hands.

The myrrh was dripping from my fingers

while I unlatched the bolt.

6 I opened the door for the man who loves me,

but he had left.

He had turned away and was gone!

I was very disappointed [IDM];

I searched for him, but I could not find him.

I called him, but he did not answer.

7 The city watchmen saw me while they were walking around the city.

They beat me and wounded me

because they thought I must be a prostitute;

those men who were guarding the city walls took my robe.

8 You young women of Jerusalem,

I plead with you,

if you see the man who loves me,

tell him [DOU] that I am very disappointed that we did not make love.